Developer asks Winter Springs to supply water to adjacent Oviedo parcel; commission directs staff to continue talks

A developer proposing twin neighborhood retail centers that straddle State Road 434 asked the Winter Springs City Commission on Jan. 27 to consider providing water service to a parcel that lies inside the City of Oviedo.

Terri Lynn Rolle, director of community development for Winter Springs, told the commission the site at 1063 West State Road 434 is inside Winter Springs and allowed for commercial development, while the neighboring lot at 1021 West SR 434 sits in Oviedo and lacks nearby water and sewer connections. Rolle said Oviedo staff had previously written that Oviedo would be open to a wholesale arrangement with Winter Springs but that Winter Springs staff had recommended against the proposal in 2023.

Attorney Frank Prepenbacher and engineer Sam Sabali, representing Harpco General Contractors, described plans for two small retail centers — roughly 4,600 square feet on the Winter Springs parcel and about 6,500 square feet on the Oviedo parcel — that would each include multiple tenants and a small restaurant. Sabali said the project would require a directional drill under SR 434 to deliver potable water and a lift station to serve both sites for sewer. He estimated the total demand at about five equivalent residential units (ERUs) and said the developer would pay impact fees and other costs required by the city.

Deputy Mayor Cade Resnick and other commissioners focused on whether Winter Springs should agree to provide water outside its municipal boundaries, whether annexation of the Oviedo parcel was practical, and whether the city would receive the fiscal benefit if it supplied utilities. City Attorney Anthony A. Garbanese said the city may provide water outside the municipal boundary only by written agreement with the commission’s prior consent; he noted annexation would require Oviedo to de-annex the parcel before Winter Springs could annex it.

City Manager Kevin Sweet said staff had spoken with Oviedo and that Oviedo’s prior position was to limit hookups that consume local water capacity for properties outside Oviedo’s boundaries. Sweet also told the commission there remain open questions about whether Oviedo’s letter referred to wholesale pricing or some other billing arrangement and that the parties would need to clarify billing, rates and future transfer of customers if Oviedo later installed its own utilities.

After discussion, commissioners signaled consensus to direct the city manager and city attorney to reopen talks with Oviedo and the developer to explore options including annexation, a written interlocal agreement, and clarifying billing and impact-fee arrangements. Deputy Mayor Resnick and Commissioner Mark Caruso led the motion to move forward, and commissioners indicated support for staff to pursue the details and return with recommendations to the commission. No formal vote on annexation or a utility contract was taken; commissioners asked staff to report back with legal and fiscal terms for a future decision.

Why it matters: The request touches city limits, water capacity and tax‑base issues. If Winter Springs supplies water under a written agreement it may face short‑term capacity and long‑term billing questions; if it annexes the land, the city could capture new tax revenue but would need Oviedo’s cooperation.

What’s next: Staff and the city attorney will resume discussions with Oviedo and the developer and return to the commission with options and recommended terms for any wholesale or annexation agreement.